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Why is it as a bloke, that admitting to having zero interest in football or not following a team elicits a similar reaction to declaring a love of necrophilia, Morris dancing or hamster porn?
Chatty cabbies are struck dumb, new acquaintances are lost for conversation and all and sundry doubt your masculinity, patriotism even sanity. Cast iron guaranteed conversation killer.
I don't hate it, I just don't get it. I know I'm in a minority and am not slagging anyone who does like it, just wondering why it is so baffling to the average British male that some people are genuinely ambivalent (at best) about it.
Am I the only one?
Is it the same in other countries?
I can't stand the bloody game, you are not alone.
No interest whatsoever, never been to a match, probably never watched a match either. Neither had my parents.
Just don't talk to cabbies would be my suggestion...
You should try living in Wales and not being bothered about rugby!
...Or live in Canada and have no interest in Ice Hockey!
I made the mistake of going to both hockey and CFL (aka American football with slightly different rules). So bloody boring as the games kept getting interupt by advert breaks for TV schedules and/or to swap offensive and defensive teams over.
The CFL games went on for 4 hours...I think it was a ruse to make punters buy overpriced, shite beer...
Couldn't care less about it and can't fathom the obsession others have over it.
I also don’t care for football or rugby, but don’t particularly care what others think. Folks and strokes.
You should try living in Wales and not being bothered about rugby!
That does sound a tough gig! You have my sympathy!
I don't mind people who like football, some of them are OK.
I don't mind anyone not being interested in football. There are >10,000 things I'm not interested but I don't carp on about them.
I do wonder sometime why people with no interest in football end up commenting (negatively) about football/footballers.
I’ll get in on this. Family enjoys a bit of football - I don’t get it at all.
I do wonder sometime why people with no interest in football end up commenting (negatively) about football/footballers.
Fair enough, though not something that has happened on this thread so far
Couldn't give a toss about football (in fact I actively dislike it), and frankly don't mind if people take issue with my view - it's a handy filter.
As a sport I 'get it' more than ice hockey, basketball and basically everything else an american jock would get a stiffy over; I just struggle to get past the tribalism.
Quite like playing it, no interest in watching it.
Don’t drink alcohol either which thoroughly confuses a large part of the population.
You should try living in Wales and not being bothered about rugby!
Really, I’ve lived in Cardiff my whole life, I don’t know anyone who follows club rugby, most people will watch the 6 Nations and World Cup, but the actual game often gets in the way of the drinking.
For the record I’ve no interest in Football either, but if you really want to feel like a leper, trying telling people you don’t like Tea, or worse Tea OR Coffee.
but if you really want to feel like a leper, trying telling people you don’t like Tea, or worse Tea OR Coffee.
yeah, but drinking tea/coffee with people is a completely ingrained part of friendship, greeting, hosting and being hosted. It would be like not shaking their hand...........oh.
but if you really want to feel like a leper, trying telling people you don’t like Tea, or worse Tea OR Coffee.
Freak!!! Burn him! 😄
As a teen in the 80s, I watched MOTD and most televised football, almost without fail. Played loads too, bought the first generation Adidas Predators, they were awesome for swerve. Then Liverpool stopped winning, I went to uni and besides watching the odd Euro/World cup game, my love for the game died.
Not only do I not like football, I don't drink tea, coffee or beer. In fact, I very rarely drink any alcohol at all. Therefore, I don't do pubs or clubs.
Same, no interest in football.
Back in the days when lots of people worked in an office*, I could kill just about any conversation that started with "Did you watch..." by pointing out I'd not had a TV for over a decade. It moved on to having to rebuff "Well, what about Netflix/Prime..." counters until people realised I'm just genuinely not interested in watching telly. Then they get a bit weirded out...
* Like, any time previous to about 6 months ago...
Don’t particularly like it can’t say it’s ever been in an issue.
As a fan of rugby and football I couldn't give a stuff if I am in a group who don't like football. In fact most of the 12 out in the bike today don't like the sport.
But what I do dislike is the urgent need to declare a dislike of football.
I for instance hate computer games, golf and all Motorsport but never say unless I'm asked.
Not a huge fan, it’s in my blood as my Dad played pro and I’ve played to a good standard, but I don’t really follow it anymore. However it’s a big part of British culture so I think having a passing knowledge is a good thing.
Being consciously ignorant of things that play a big part of others lives or culture is not smart IMO.
But what I do dislike is the urgent need to declare a dislike of football.
I for instance hate computer games, golf and all Motorsport but never say unless I’m asked.
Fair enough, though I don't get the "urgent" bit. My point is that there is a distinct difference between declaring a dislike of football and other things (computer games etc) because most football fans (in my experience) seem to assume that any adult British male they meet will share their enthusiasm and be utterly baffled if they don't. Golf, computer games etc don't seem to have the same reaction.
Obligatory posting of this:
'Stigma' is a very strong word though surely, lots of people aren't into football. I'm not into soaps or reality tv shows which are similarly ubiquitous.
Being consciously ignorant of things that play a big part of others lives or culture is not smart IMO.
That's a good point something along the lines of what I would believe.
I don't follow football and don't get involved in conversation about it. Morris dancing however...
Wife and teenage sons all are season ticket holders with one of the main glasgow clubs. I have never been to a game and have no interest in it whatsoever. They go to the football, I go on my bike, all good...
Being consciously ignorant of things that play a big part of others lives or culture is not smart IMO.
Whereas I really couldn't give a flying **** what either of the Old Firm are doing and will be quite glad if my daughter grows up with the same disinterest the rest of her family has towards it, mainly because of the toxic baggage it can (but not necessarily) bring.
There is a huge gulf between conscious ignorance and cultural snobbery FWIW.
Fair enough, though I don’t get the “urgent” bit. My point is that there is a distinct difference between declaring a dislike of football and other things (computer games etc) because most football fans (in my experience) seem to assume that any adult British male they meet will share their enthusiasm and be utterly baffled if they don’t. Golf, computer games etc don’t seem to have the same reaction.
Quite. And computer games don't get 15 pages in every Sunday paper, most of half an hour of the BBC news every evening, 3 hours of primetime TV coverage multiple times a month...
By saying urgent it sometimes seems that it's like an ex smoker or drinker being fervently anti. Like some trauma there somewhere from school days.
No interest in football here either.
Never felt particularly stigmatised by this (unlike when I worked in a rugby league town and word got out that I had a season ticket for the local union side; the pisstaking was lengthy).
However, the departmental admin tried to engage me in conversation about Man City the other day and it was painful, as I’d no idea what she was talking about.
@iainc Thistle then?
^^^ aye, that’ll be the one 😁
Quite. And computer games don’t get 15 pages in every Sunday paper, most of half an hour of the BBC news every evening, 3 hours of primetime TV coverage multiple times a month…
One of the things that annoys me about football fans is how much they exaggerate.
Whereas I really couldn’t give a flying **** what either of the Old Firm are doing and will be quite glad if my daughter grows up with the same disinterest the rest of her family has towards it, mainly because of the toxic baggage it can (but not necessarily) bring.
And that’s fine.
But like it or not, for a large part of the populous it’s an important part of their lives. So knowing a little is a good thing. You don’t need to have any “toxic baggage”, just know a little about what’s going on.
I’m an atheist, but I acknowledge that religion plays an important part in society and culture for many so I make sure I am reasonably knowledgeable about the subject.
Think the key to not liking football is to say it like it's entirely normal to not like football - which it is of course!
If you can say it as if it would be insane to like it even better 😉
But like it or not, for a large part of the populous it’s an important part of their lives. So knowing a little is a good thing.
Out of interest, does the same obligation apply to other areas of popular culture enjoyed by large parts of the populous? Love Island for example? East Enders? I'm a celebrity? Snooker?
I like football. It's a useful couple of hours to get out on quieter roads.
Not sure that's a good analogy as most schools include football as part of the physical curriculum. Footballs been around for over hundred years in its current form. And most large towns have stadiums.
Love Island is just a trend for the moment.
OP, I feel the same.
I play along with it in conversation when people start talking about it without actually specifying the sport. For example, if someone starts talking about the world cup, I'll converse by talking about a different world cup. It takes a while for people to clock on. Then I'll act just as surprised as them when they work it out.
Just hate it when people assume I like the sport.
Out of interest, does the same obligation apply to other areas of popular culture enjoyed by large parts of the populous? Love Island for example? East Enders? I’m a celebrity? Snooker?
There’s no obligation to anyone to know anything, that’s your call. But for me, I don’t see what you wouldn’t have a basic knowledge of something that lots of people like. Using your example, I’m no Love Island fan but I know what it’s all about and know enough that I can see why people would like it, even if it’s not for me.
Why is it as a bloke, that admitting to having zero interest in football or not following a team elicits a similar reaction to declaring a love of necrophilia, Morris dancing or hamster porn?
Wow, did all these admissions happen in the same conversation? That's pretty intense.
You could make exactly the same argument about cricket, tennis, athletics etc (school sports, local clubs, facilities in every town and most villages etc) Do we have to be interested and knowledgeable in them all?
And that’s fine.
But like it or not, for a large part of the populous it’s an important part of their lives. So knowing a little is a good thing.
Why?
I’m an atheist, but I acknowledge that religion plays an important part in society and culture for many so I make sure I am reasonably knowledgeable about the subject.
Why?
I have no interest in football or religion and no interest in discussing either topic. Similarly I'm not bothered that most people aren't interested in the things I enjoy.